Why do so many people love the 290/390?

[AOD]

I have noticed that on another forum many members there keep cooing over their coveted 390's like its their first born kid and wont shut up about how incredible they are. I tell them they need to try a 361 and they're all like, " I don't need a pro saw, why do I need anything like that?" or "What are you doing running a 73cc saw, are you a logger?" or even better, "You don't run safety chain?" I don't get it! Even I will admit that the 361 is pretty sweet, and I don't even like Stihls. These are the same people who go all gaga over a 455R. For the last time, the 390 is a big, clunky, underpowered turd! These people don't want to spend $600 for a real saw but don't think twice about $1,500 to buy toys for their screaming little poop factory.

And yes, I know Husky has a few turd saws, like the 570, but how many people go around pushing their 570 in a stroller and bragging about how awesome it is.

 

[sloch24]

I have noticed that on another forum many members there keep cooing over their coveted 390's like its their first born kid and wont shut up about how incredible they are. I tell them they need to try a 361 and they're all like, " I don't need a pro saw, why do I need anything like that?" or "What are you doing running a 73cc saw, are you a logger?" or even better, "You don't run safety chain?" I don't get it! Even I will admit that the 361 is pretty sweet, and I don't even like Stihls. These are the same people who go all gaga over a 455R. For the last time, the 390 is a big, clunky, underpowered turd! These people don't want to spend $600 for a real saw but don't think twice about $1,500 to buy toys for their screaming little poop factory.

And yes, I know Husky has a few turd saws, like the 570, but how many people go around pushing their 570 in a stroller and bragging about how awesome it is.

Don't hold back... Tell us how you REALLY feel..

My old man has a 390 and he really likes it... although his favorite saw up to now is the stihl 031...

I dunno, for Joe Homeowner, the 290 or 390 have quite a bit of power... I don't think weight matters much if you're not using it all day every day.

Just my 2 cents

 

[brages]

For the last time, the 390 is a big, clunky, underpowered turd!

It's no bigger or clunkier than a 290, and quite a bit less underpowered...

Think of the 390 as porky 361 for a lot less $$$... :monkey:

 

[AOD]

Thats the thing. Inexperienced homeowners should stick with the 1xx series, casual users can use a 260 or 270, but if you need a saw the size of the 390 you need the performance and features of a 361. They won't spend the money for a real saw but ride around in a $35,000 SUV that gets traded in every 2 yrs.

 

[brages]

What if you've got to buck large pieces of wood, and you don't want to spend much money... and it's got to be orange and white...?


Isn't the size of the saw you should buy dictated by the size of the wood you want to cut, rather than how "serious" you are?

 

[blsnelling]

Because it has as basically the same power as a 361 for less money. they respond VERY well to a muffler mod for even more power. Not everyone cares about pro construction or ease of tearing their own saw down, which it won't need if taken care of. I bought a 039 new probably 15 years ago and used the daylights out of it. It never missed a beat and was a great saw.

 

[goof008]

I have a 290, it was my dad's and he got it to replace a smaller saw that burned in a garage fire...the 361 wasn't out yet and insurance covered the cost, so why not get it? I used it as my primary saw for 2 years of cutting wood to heat with. I did eventually upgrade to a DCS-6401, but the 290 is a good back up.

As for people getting a new $35k SUV every year, well that just sounds like jealousy rearing it's ugly head. If someone wants to do it, why berate them for it. If it doesn't work for you, don't do it.

And, if you'd like the pony up the extra cash to make my 290 a 361, I'll get you my address and you can send the cash.

Remember, some people have budgets and saving some $ for oil, chains, gas, food, mortgage, etc may take priority to a saw.

 

[Normsworld]

VALUE . For half the price they are great saws .For the once a week cutter , the 290 love you long time ! A expensive pro saw may help you look like a pro , but I appreciate the dude that looks like a pro using what ever . Heavy and underpowered , yes . Just properly sharpen the chain and do some pushups once in a while . I got a pro saw too , but the money saved on another 290 will stimulate my love life !

 

[computeruser]

Like Brad said.

Plus, I've never been all that thrilled with the 361. It's a nice 60cc saw. Wow. Ported so it's running with the 372s, now we have something to talk about. But off the shelf, it's not really all that exciting. I'd rather have a used 044 for the same money.

Anyway, make sure you complete the rounds and hit up Forestry Forum with your "I hate midrange saws" posts, too.

 

[Kemper]

:deadhorse:

I have noticed that on another forum many members there keep cooing over their coveted 390's like its their first born kid and wont shut up about how incredible they are. I tell them they need to try a 361 and they're all like, " I don't need a pro saw, why do I need anything like that?" or "What are you doing running a 73cc saw, are you a logger?" or even better, "You don't run safety chain?" I don't get it! Even I will admit that the 361 is pretty sweet, and I don't even like Stihls. These are the same people who go all gaga over a 455R. For the last time, the 390 is a big, clunky, underpowered turd! These people don't want to spend $600 for a real saw but don't think twice about $1,500 to buy toys for their screaming little poop factory.

And yes, I know Husky has a few turd saws, like the 570, but how many people go around pushing their 570 in a stroller and bragging about how awesome it is.

:deadhorse:

 

[timberwolf]

Thats the thing. Inexperienced homeowners should stick with the 1xx series, casual users can use a 260 or 270, but if you need a saw the size of the 390 you need the performance and features of a 361.

Don't know , the 290 and 390 made good sales as farm saws, did not need to cut day in day out hundreds of hours a year, but needed enough power to deal to pull a reasonable bar and deal with decent sized wood.

On that a casual user likely does not need a 260, when a lower cost 290 would serve fine for a few cords of fire wood a year.

 

[Raymond]

Because they're good saws that's why.:monkey:

Yes I have been checking out the 361 and will get one later this summer, cause that's how I roll.

Hey I seen a gal posted something about one of those cute 170 this morning...Go get'er tiger!

 

[brages]

The one thing I don't understand is the pricing on the MS390. The 290 is a lot of hp for the dollar, so it's a good value and very popular. The 390 has a bigger piston, so it's got better performance, but the price is $100 more. Clearly, it's more profitable. So why doesn't Stihl drop the price on it just a tad and upsell a few more buyers from the Most Popular Model Farm Dog 290...?

 

[timberwolf]

Simple they all do it, profit margine on the 290 is slim and they rake in the extra money on the 390s.

Same
Stihl 650, 660
Dolmar 6400 - 7300 - 7900
Husky 365 - 372 or back in the day 281 - 288, 268 - 272
Solo 651 -656, 675 - 681

 

[ShoerFast]

Bought a used (near-new) MS-310 and muff-modded it.

Sold many cords of wood cut by that saw.

Won a bid to fell and block a dozen 3'+ DBH Ponderosia Pines and Doug-Fir trees. I wouldn't brag about it, but with 0.020 DG'S on an RSLK-F sharp-sharp chain on a 36" bar, I can say the 310 pulled it, if you were really careful how you ran it!

Sold the MS-310 to a guy that is now a member here, offer to buy it back from him every time we chat, he is quick with a 'NO!' , he loves the saw!

That 310 bought my 361, would I ever look back? NO! , would I get another as a spare or loan-er saw to fill a truck fast with firewood, in a second!

In a way, the 290-310-390's build there own nitch in the Stihl line-up as they call them 'Mid-Range' saws, they hit the nail on the head with that.

Just don't drop them on there oil-tank.

 

[mtfallsmikey]

As I did on other days and in other threads, I used to trash my 290...but after a muff mod,HP Ultra, 93 oct. gas, the saw finally woke up, and has been the go-to saw of choice for most bucking...tried a bud's MS440 this past weekend, was a 'lil screamer with an 18" bar...the 290 is Stihl's best seller... for someone fresh off the street, not doing high production, is probably the best bang for the buck Stihl offers.

 

[ShoerFast]

Simple they all do it, profit margine on the 290 is slim and they rake in the extra money on the 390s.

Same
Stihl 650, 660
Dolmar 6400 - 7300 - 7900
Husky 365 - 372 or back in the day 281 - 288, 268 - 272
Solo 651 -656, 675 - 681

It would be my guess that a little of the extra jingle they make off the larger displacment saws goes to into a product liability escrow account.

It would be my bet that more get hurt by the more powerful versions?

 

[timberwolf]

I'd be surprised if that were the case...

It's plain profit, the business model would not work if they sold a 290, 310 and 390 all at the same price as it costs the same to make them. There would be no point in even making a 290 or 310.

It's a rip off scam plain and simple.

 

[computeruser]

It would be my guess that a little of the extra jingle they make off the larger displacment saws goes to into a product liability escrow account.

It would be my bet that more get hurt by the more powerful versions?

Hard to say, but I doubt that product liability has anything to do with pricing. The saws all carry the appropriate warnings, required disclosures regarding the advisability of low-kickback chain, protective gear, etc. I'd think that any injuries that result from the use of the saws would clearly be the fault of user error or negligence, rather than defective products for which Stihl would be liable.

 

[Orange Hill]

I bought this saw just before I joined this board so I was an uninformed buyer. For about $100 more I could have gotten a 361, in fact I was eyeballing it and the shop owner told me the 390 was about the same power for less money and it has the intelligent carb, adjustable oiler, and decomp valve so I was sold. I was pretty disappointed with my 390 after I got it. It was a bit porky and kinda weak in logs over 18".

Well I have opened up the muffler and trimmed the limiters/enriched the carb and it is born again hard. I like the saw now, I was just running a 28" bar with full skip in oak this past weekend and it held it's own. It now has the power that it had with my normal 20" bar. I also ran my Sachs Dolmar 122 Super which is a sexy beast in always and that 390 is so light and smooth in comparison. I would like to see how my 390 would do against a stock 361; I think it would wup easily. With the extra 5 cc's I would not doubt that it would have more torque to boot. Properly modded it may beat a modded 361. If the 390 feels heavy to you get a bigger saw and suddenly it is light and nimble. I can't wait to port and polish it, maybe even a ceramic coated piston and a hand built muffler. Stock it is lean and weak, but there is much to be gained with 15 minutes of work. Yes it has more plastic, but if it holds up and does not break does it really matter that it has more plastic. And does the tree know that it was killed by a mid-level saw; nope.

If I could go back I would have gotten a 361, but that is water under the bridge and cutting is my hobby not my profession. I have cut almost 20 12"-30" diameter trees blue gum and live oak in the last month and a half and it is still alive and well. I have a blue gum that is just shy of a 14' in circumference at breast height that I have no doubt I can drop and buck with the 390, though I do use my 024 for most every thing under 12" and I will be running the 122 Super too.